Federal Government Requests Court Deny Bail for Alleged Terrorists and Oil Bunker Operator

Alex Enumah

The federal government has opposed the bail application of Ugochukwu Lucky Ibekwe, an alleged terrorist and oil bunkerer who is on trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja. Ibekwe is accused of causing the deaths of more than 500 people and of economic sabotage.

Known as “Chief Onwa,” Ibekwe is also charged by the federal government with tampering with oil pipelines, siphoning crude oil, and operating illegal refineries without the required licence.

He is alleged to have paid N2 million into UBA Account No. 1006496099, belonging to public officer Oliver Amadi, in an attempt to exonerate himself from the alleged offences.

The government also claims that Ibekwe received N1 million from Musa Mohammed for permission to engage in illegal tapping of an oil pipeline, and that he agreed to receive N2 million weekly for subsequent operations.

During the proceedings before Justice Salim Ibrahim, Ibekwe’s counsel, Damian Okoro, SAN, applied for bail on several grounds. He argued that the defendant is a kidney transplant patient and that prima facie evidence has not been established against him in the terrorism allegations, particularly the claim that he caused the deaths of 500 people.

Okoro pleaded that bail would allow the defendant to attend to his health issues and prepare for his defense. He assured the court that the defendant would not abscond and would not tamper with witnesses or evidence if released.

The bail application was strongly opposed by the Director of the Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, on multiple grounds.

Oyedepo argued that the charges carry capital punishment, ranging from death to life imprisonment, and that bail can only be granted in exceptional circumstances, which the defendant has not demonstrated.

He dismissed the kidney transplant claim, noting the absence of acceptable medical records from a government hospital as required by law.

Oyedepo cited the testimony of Uzoma Randle, who claimed that more than 500 people died as a result of oil spillage and crude oil refineries operated by the accused in various locations.

The federal government lawyer also raised concerns about the security of witnesses who would testify against the defendant, emphasizing the need for their protection.

He urged the judge to reject the bail application and instead grant an accelerated trial for the defendant.

After hearing arguments for and against the bail request, Justice Salim Ibrahim set a ruling date of July 1 and scheduled the commencement of the trial.

In Count 1, Ibekwe is alleged to have conspired between 1999 and 2025, at Imo River Community, Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State, with Mr. Timi, Igbo, Alozye, Obinna Cook, Dozy, Wilfred, Prince Adebayo, and others (all at large). The conspiracy involved operating illegal refining sites, tampering with oil pipelines, siphoning crude oil, and selling it without an appropriate licence, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, CAP M17 (Revised Edition), Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2007, punishable under Section 1(17)(a)(b) of the same Act.

In Count 2, Ibekwe is alleged to have knowingly run an organized criminal syndicate that destroyed and tampered with critical national infrastructure such as oil pipelines, operated illegal refining sites without a licence, and caused the deaths of over 500 people due to oil spillage.